In a major stride towards combating climate change, India's Prime Minister, Narendra Modi, announced that the nation will generate half of its electricity from non-fossil fuel sources by 2030. Speaking at the G20 Energy Ministers meeting on Saturday, he emphasized India's commitment to green energy and its critical role in fighting against global warming.

Prime Minister Modi shared this ambitious goal with the audience during a video conference held in the coastal city of Goa. He proudly stated that India has already showcased its commitment to environmental preservation by reaching its non-fossil fuel energy capacity target nine years ahead of schedule.

India, often recognized as one of the world leaders in harnessing solar and wind power, is also making significant strides in green growth and energy transition. This points to the nation's consistent efforts to decrease its reliance on fossil fuels, and the progress it has made in tapping into renewable sources.

In addition to renewable energy, the country is focusing on Green Hydrogen, a carbon-free energy source. Prime Minister Modi emphasized that India is actively working towards making the country a global center for the production, usage, and export of Green Hydrogen and its by-products. He expressed readiness to share the country's experiences and findings in this field.

India, despite being the second-most populated country and boasting one of the fastest-growing economies in the world, remains steadfast in its commitments to climate change. PM Modi highlighted this during his address, pointing out the determination of his nation to balance economic growth and environmental protection.

The G20, an international forum for governments and central bank governors from 20 major economies, holds a substantial influence over global matters. Recognizing this, PM Modi urged his fellow G20 representatives to advance towards a future of sustainable, affordable, and inclusive clean energy. He stressed the importance of ensuring that developing nations, often referred to as the Global South, are not left behind in this crucial journey.

The Prime Minister proposed several measures to support this cause. These include low-cost financing options for developing countries, strategies to bridge technology gaps, enhance energy security, diversify supply chains, and strengthen collaboration on future fuels.

Highlighting the importance of Hydrogen as a clean energy source, Modi mentioned that the High-Level Principles on Hydrogen are a positive step forward. Transnational grid interconnections, he pointed out, could significantly enhance energy security. The Prime Minister revealed that India was already promoting this kind of cooperation with its neighboring countries, and the results have been encouraging.

Prime Minister Modi also extended an invitation to all to join the Green Grids Initiative, a visionary project aimed at creating interconnected green grids. Achieving this could transform the way energy is consumed globally, enable countries to meet their climate goals, stimulate green investment, and create a multitude of green jobs.

Beyond India's technical strides towards combating climate change, PM Modi shared that respect for the environment is deeply ingrained in India's culture and traditional wisdom. He shed light on his vision of Mission LiFE (Lifestyle for Environment), a transformative approach aimed at turning every individual into a climate champion. This movement intends to rally people in the fight against global warming, reinforcing the ethos of preserving 'One Earth' and protecting the interests of 'One Family' for a Green One Future.

Prime Minister Modi further spotlighted the tangible steps India has taken towards reducing its carbon footprint. Over the past nine years, more than 119 million families in India have received LPG connections. In a monumental achievement, every village in India is now connected to electricity.

Modi also drew attention to a scheme launched in 2015 for the use of LED lights. This initiative grew into the world's largest LED distribution program, saving more than 45 billion units of energy annually.

Looking at the future of transport, he pointed out that India's domestic electric vehicle market is projected to grow exponentially, reaching 10 million units in annual sales by 2030. In addition to electric vehicles, India has started rolling out petrol blended with 20 per cent ethanol. This eco-friendly initiative aims to cover the entire country by 2025.

As the G20 meeting in Goa, under India's presidency, progresses, Energy Ministers from G20 member countries, along with high-ranking officials from nine invited countries and 14 international organizations, will further discuss and outline steps to move towards a sustainable future. PM Modi's announcement demonstrates India's leadership in this critical mission.

UAE Minister expresses gratitude to PM Modi for hosting G20 Energy Ministers’ meeting in Goa, calls it "important"

Suhail Al Mazrouei, the United Arab Emirates' Minister of Energy and Infrastructure, extended his heartfelt appreciation to the Indian Prime Minister, Narendra Modi, and his administration for their role as hosts for the G20 Energy Transitions Ministers' assembly held in Goa. He underscored the significance of the event, referring to it as "a very important one."

Expressing his views on the event, Minister Al Mazrouei said, "A very important meeting and first I would like to thank the government of India and his excellency for hosting all of us." As representatives of the UAE, their participation was pivotal as they themselves are due to host the COP28, where key topics regarding sustainability and the transition of energy will be discussed in depth.

Emphasising the UAE's role in the meeting, he added, "UAE is coming as a guest to the G20 and we have a very important role as well this year as we are hosting COP28 and discussing very important aspects of sustainability, transition in energy."

The UAE Energy Minister was keen to highlight the need to keep in mind the interests of the general public while progressing towards energy transition. His viewpoint is that the pace of this shift should not inadvertently burden the common people with heightened energy costs.

"We have to address one important element which is affordability and we need to make sure that the transition is done at a pace that is also serving the interest of the common people, of not raising the energy prices on them," he articulated. In his perspective, the fight against emissions resulting from fossil fuels shouldn't lead to the complete elimination of any particular type of fuel. He insisted on a balanced approach, where reaching net-zero emissions doesn't mean the outright removal of any fuel form.

The UAE Minister also had positive remarks about PM Modi's televised address during the meeting. He praised India's commitment to sustainability, stating, "It shows the commitment of India and the Indian people toward sustainability. India is embarking on a very rapid transition and ensuring that India not only handles the energy challenge of the future but is able to export hydrogen."

Further, he saw India's proactive measures as promising and wished the Indian government and its people immense success in the upcoming years.

The G20 Energy Ministers gathered under India’s G20 Presidency in Goa on July 22, 2023. The theme for the meeting was ‘One Earth, One Family, One Future’. The goal of the assembly was to foster a sense of responsibility and solidarity among the G20 members. This was aimed at hastening the sustainable, just, affordable and inclusive energy transitions. The approach was varied but the objective was shared growth that is secure, sustainable, equitable and inclusive.

Ahmet Berat Çonkar, Turkey’s Deputy Minister for Energy and Natural Resources, also appreciated the importance of the meeting held in Goa, highlighting energy as a crucial issue on their agenda. He stressed the importance of focusing on sustainability, renewable energy, and energy efficiency, as well as ensuring fair distribution of energy at affordable prices.

"It's a good experience to be here in India. I think it's very important for all the countries to be represented here in G20," said the Turkish Deputy Minister, emphasizing the relevance of the global platform provided by the G20 summit.

The meeting, which saw the participation of more than 100 delegates from G20 member countries, invitee countries, and various international organizations, was a platform for knowledge and experience sharing, said Director General Energy Commission of Nigeria, Joseph Sunday Olayande.

In conclusion, the G20 Ministers responsible for Energy underscored the need to match the rising global energy demand with sustainable and affordable energy supplies. They also expressed their intention to advance technological collaboration among G20 members and other international partners, with the goal of bolstering energy systems to ensure energy security and stabilize energy markets.